(From Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Lome, Togo Courtesy Ministry of Education, Science and Sports)
Lome, March 15, GNA - Solly Lurhengo, Assistant coach of South Africa has spit fire insisting that there are interesting observations about the ages of some players at the ongoing African U-17 Championship in Togo.
The South Africans lost 2-0 to host Togo in the tournament's opener and has since insisted that the coherent nature of the date of issue of almost all the passports for the entire team must raise some eyebrows.
Coach Lurhengo told the GNA Sports that "get the passports and tell me if you don't find it odd that about 97 percent of the passports were issued the same day.
"For us, this is a very interesting observation which must give people the reason to fish for some pertinent answers".
The South Africans shot themselves back into contention when they beat Gabon 3-1 in their second group game in a fashion the coach believes was influenced by their resolve to die to prove a point regardless of the disadvantages they face in the competition.
Coach Lurhengo said 93We are motivated to give our best shot and prove to all that no matter what we can prove a point.
"Our only hope is that our boys who are often at a disadvantage will not get injured along the way".
A few complaints about some players being over-aged keeps flying in from various quarters but the Director of Communication for the Confederation of African Football, (CFA) Habuba Suleiman who said his outfit is yet to receive any formal complaints has tasked all to provide evidence to back their claims.
Habuba Suleiman told the GNA Sports 93We deal with national associations and they get players registered through their passports so if you have any complaints, all you need to do is to back it with evidence and it will be given the absolute attention".
The usage of players with the requisite ages has so often come up during such competitions.
